Agribusiness: using apps to connect the needy to a meal.

WITH the holidays upon us, some smartphone apps can let you help someone in need with just a few taps of your finger. 

ShareTheMeal is a favorite charity donation app. When surrounded by delivery apps and cheap fast food, one can easily forget that many people around the world can’t easily afford their next meal. Using 

ShareTheMeal, you can quickly donate money to the United Nations World Food Program and help someone gain access to food. 

 The app reminds you that it costs only half a dollar to feed a child for a whole day, and you can donate that with a single tap once you have entered your payment information. You can also donate enough to feed a child for a week or more, or set up a regular monthly payment. 

There is even a social angle: You can connect with other users or link the app to Facebook and try to persuade your friends there to take part. The app reports the number of meals shared (nearly nine million so far), and it links you to news about places where the United Nations’ help is desperately needed. All of this is achieved with clear language, an easy-to-use interface and little fuss: 

The idea is that when you feel a charitable urge, you can turn to this app and donate in seconds. ShareTheMeal is free for iOS and Android. The Donate a Photo app also makes it easy to give to charity. But in this case, the funds come from a sponsor, Johnson & Johnson, not out of your pocket, which means you can be charitable even if you don’t have money to spare.continue